With You

Chapter 10

"Is it true—she's here?" Anakin was bouncing on the balls of his feet, peeking into the Council Chambers as best he could as Obi-Wan slipped out and waited for Cecilia to finish speaking to several of the Councilmembers individually.

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Yes, Anakin, she is here."

"Aren't you excited, Master? Your oldest friend in the galaxy is back at the Jedi Temple?"

Obi-Wan sighed—even as a Jedi Knight, Anakin was still over-emotional and over-excitable. "You'll see her soon enough, Anakin. And be spending quite a bit more time together. The three of us—you, myself, and Cecilia, have a special mission to attend to."

Anakin's eyes grew wide. "What about our troops?"

"Most likely they will receive temporary reassignments till we return from this mission. It will be only the four of us. That's all we need to discuss right now."

Just then, Cecilia came out the Council Chamber doors, looking a bit in shock at everything that had transpired. She froze when she saw Anakin. "Anakin Skywalker? Is that really you?"

He grinned wide and quickly bridged the distance between them, embracing her in a hug. "Ceci!"

It had been ages since Obi-Wan had heard Anakin say that name. It warmed his heart. In the short time he was around the Temple before she left, the young boy had grown very fond of her. And the utter joy at seeing her again made him seem so young again.

"Anakin—you, you've grown from the small boy I knew to a grown man! Look at you, a Knight of the Jedi Order! I'm so proud of you!"

As Obi-Wan watched Anakin beam under her praise, for a brief moment he thought he saw the twinkle in Anakin's eyes that he remembered from when he was still young.

"I have so many questions about what you've been doing since you left!" Anakin said excitedly and Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.

"Anakin, Cecilia has been through quite the ordeal and I'm sure would like to be taken to her quarters and get some rest."

Cecilia grinned at the two men and placed a comforting hand on Anakin's arm. "I promise we'll have plenty of time to talk, Anakin. Why don't you come for breakfast with Obi-Wan and I in the morning? We can start catching up then."

"That's great! See you then!" and with that Anakin Skywalker flashed away.

Obi-Wan chuckled and rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly as he watched his former Padawan go around the corner. "As excited as he got to see you, one could almost forget he is a Jedi Knight and a General in charge of a contingent of Republic troops." He then turned to you, deciding to think of his former Padawan no more for now. "Come, let me show you to your suite."

Cecilia's eyes went wide. "My suite? Obi-Wan, I am accustomed to sleeping in tight quarters and sometimes without a bed. And that's if I get to sleep at all. I don't need special quarters."

"Perhaps you think not, but the Council thinks otherwise. And perhaps it is for those very reasons they were considerate enough to give you these quarters."

"But Obi—"

"Don't try to argue, Cecilia. Just accept it." Cecilia was sure this was the voice Obi-Wan used when he had taught his Padawan lessons.

Soon they arrived at the the door to her guest...suite. "Obi-Wan! These quarters are reserved for visiting dignitaries! People of much higher status than... than me!"

"These are the quarters the Council has reserved for you, Cecilia," he said, his voice calm and soothing as he attempted to communicate more to her than he was.